I have am planning on making up a dress using ponte knit with elephant suede pockets or shoulders (haven't decided yet).

I would appreciate input on treatment of the fabrics before construction and care after. I imagine this is a garment that should be dry cleaned. But I'm hoping I could get away with not dry cleaning the fabrics before construction.

Ponté knit is fabulous because it's basically impossible to shrink or wrinkle. You could dry clean it, or you could do what I do with my pants, and throw them in the water on hot, with a high spin and then dry them 'til they're bone dry in the dryer. For years on end. Never shrink, never twist, never warp, never wrinkle! Enjoy the dress!

I've only worked with ponte once before and after gentle cycle and air drying the pants only once (twice counting before sewing them up) they've begun to pill all over. Maybe it was the content? I think that one was mostly cotton, and the one I'm about to use is mostly polyester...

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